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I scored above 300 in JAMB 2024. I was sure I was getting into Computer Engineering at UNILAG. My name wasn't on the list.

I was crushed. But then I found out why,and it’s something a lot of people don't talk about.



UNILAG's catchment is the Southwest (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, etc.). If you're not from there, you're fighting for fewer spots against everyone in Nigeria. The competition is insane.

Here's the painful truth: Even with my 300+, I didn't get admission. The reason being that merit list is considered first then catchment next,to get admission by merit list you are basically competing with everybody in Nigeria applying to that university ,so the chances of admission is very slim ,but if you fall under catchment there is less competition and even if you don't get your desired course you would likely be given a new course ,this is what I wish someone told me before I made my choice of institution

My advice to you (so you don't end up like me):
Choose a university in your own region.

· Are you from the East? Look at UNN, UNIZIK, FUTO.
· From the West? UNILAG, UI, OAU are for you (if you're from their catchment states).
· From the North? Focus on the great schools in your zone.

This is the smart move. You'll have a better chance, the cut-off marks will be kinder, and you won't be stuck rewriting JAMB for years.

Want to prepare the right way? If you're a science student, join Book Block Official on Telegram. We have free quiz competitions every Friday. It's the best way to test yourself against others.Just search the name
👉(Book block Official)and join us.

Don't let a technicality ruin your dream like it almost did mine. Score high, but choose smart.👍


Updated

You are very correct. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know this

Don't be sad...when I was going to med school then I had 300 plus in jamb but one of my classmates had a jamb score of 221..he was from the same state in which the school was sited and his dad was a well known Prof in the university environment. I wasn't surprised

This is definitely not how catchment area works.

Every admission group has its alloted slots already. Let's assume merit has 100 slots and catchment has 50 slots. When you're rejected, it's not someone from catchment that took your slot, you were not just good enough for merit because there are others that had better scores. And just because your score was so good does not mean they'll give a catchment area slot to you except there are still vacant spaces after admission processes have been concluded which is close to impossible.

kingbigfish2005:
I scored above 300 in JAMB 2024. I was sure I was getting into Computer Engineering at UNILAG. My name wasn't on the list.

I was crushed. But then I found out why,and it’s something a lot of people don't talk about.

It’s called the "catchment area" system. In simple terms, every university gives priority to students from its own state and surrounding states.

UNILAG's catchment is the Southwest (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, etc.). If you're not from there, you're fighting for fewer spots against everyone in Nigeria. The competition is insane.

Here's the painful truth: Even with my 300+, I lost my spot to someone from a catchment state with a lower score. And when they miss their course, they often get offered another one( change of course). People like me? We just get rejected.

My advice to you (so you don't end up like me):
Choose a university in your own region.

· Are you from the East? Look at UNN, UNIZIK, FUTO.
· From the West? UNILAG, UI, OAU are for you (if you're from their catchment states).
· From the North? Focus on the great schools in your zone.

This is the smart move. You'll have a better chance, the cut-off marks will be kinder, and you won't be stuck rewriting JAMB for years.

Want to prepare the right way? If you're a science student, join Book Block Official on Telegram. We have free quiz competitions every Friday. It's the best way to test yourself against others.Just search the name
👉(Book block Official)and join us.

Don't let a technicality ruin your dream like it almost did mine. Score high, but choose smart.👍

I know people from Kogi & Kwara that graduated from Unilag Engineering
In your O level result, do you have a credit in further maths
What about Post UME

FIRST THING IS MERIT LIST,BEFORE CATCHMENT AREA. IF YOU MEET MERT LIST CUTOFF NO NEED FOR CATCHMENT AREA.

erad:
This is definitely not how catchment area works.

Every admission group has its alloted slots already. Let's assume merit has 100 slots and catchment has 50 slots. When you're rejected, it's not someone from catchment that took your slot, you were not just good enough for merit because there are others that had better scores. And just because your score was so good does not mean they'll give a catchment area slot to you except there are still vacant spaces after admission processes have been concluded which is close to impossible.

I wanted to say this too.

It seems I overlooked something in my post, which was the catchment area system stuff. Thanks for the correction. I did a little rephrasing with AI to avoid grammatical errors then I overlooked that catchment area system stuff, but nevertheless, the main idea should not be overlooked, which is that applying to a university in your region gives you a better guarantee of getting admission.
Once again thanks for the correction the post has been updated